Gov. Nelson tries to save unspoiled Wisconsin lands in 1961.

ORAP Gets Underway

When Gaylord Nelson was Wisconsin governor (1958-1962), one of his chief priorities was to create a mechanism by which the state could protect land from unrestrained development. His draft bill, the "Outdoor Recreaction Act Program" of 1961, took the proceeds of a penny a pack sales tax on cigarettes to fund the acquisition of lands needing preservation, the expansion of state parks, and other environmental initiatives. This short article published the following year reviews the law's initial accomplishements.